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July 19, 1955 A. DAMAST BELL AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 20, 1952 INVENTOR 0/7M/7s7; BY (Zn-ox R ATTORNEY July 19, 1955 A. DAMAST 2,713,319

BELL AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed Nov. 20, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR /B/PA7A/FM 0%1457;

ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 2,713,319 Patented July 19, 1955 BELL AND METHOD or MAKING SAME Abraham Damast, Great Neck, N. Y., assignor to Criterion Bel] & Specialty Co., Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation Application November 20, 1952, Serial No. 321,649

7 Claims. (Cl. 116-148) This invention relates to toy bells used for decorative or other purposes, and to a method of making the same from thin sheet metal.

Toy bells of this general type have been manufactured and sold in substantial quantities in recent years, particularly during the Christmas season, since they make The present invention is directed to an improved hell of this type and to an improved method of manufacturing the same.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a toy bell which is of strikingly simple and rugged construction and which may easily be fabricated from but two pieces of thin sheet metal. Bells made in accordance with the invention are comprised only of two elements, namely, a bell housing and a clapper element, both of which are stamped or otherwise formed from thin sheet metal such as steel. They are so constituted that they may be assembled with a minimum of time and effort.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a toy bell, the bell housing portion of which is a one piece structure so formed as to provide a bell supporting strap below which is a clapper support. Only a single thin sheet steel blank is employed in forming the housing.

A still further object of the invention resides in the unique method of forming the bell supporting strap and the clapper support therebeneath, both completely from I a single sheet of metal.

Both the structure and the method in accordance with the invention are admirably directed to the provision of toy ornamental bells in great quantities, quickly and expeditiously, and at such a low cost as to meet the rigid competitive requirements of articles of that type.

It is another object of the invention to effect this.

Many other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when read with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view; 'Fig.' 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 5;

Fig.- 4 is a perspective view of the clapper;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view taken at ninety degrees from the view of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view;

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged plan view of the supporting strap;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged bottom plan view of the clapper support;

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the manner of forming the clapper support;

Fig. 12 is a vertical section of a modified form of bell. and

Fig. 13 is a top plan view of the bell shown in Fig. 12.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 11 inclusive. The bell there shown is preferably made of thin sheet steel, but other metals or materials in sheet form may be employed provided they possess those properties which would be suitable for bell manufacture.

The bell is comprised of only two pieces. One of these, the bell housing 10, has a semi-spherical domeshaped upper end portion 11, a central portion 12 which is substantially cylindrical, and a flared open-ended mouth 13.

The upper end portion of the bell housing is formed with a central supporting strap 14 having parallel side edges provided with inwardly directed triangular notches 15 ,15'. (See Figs. 1, 7 and 9 in particular.) It is important to note as will be seen from Figs. 1, 2, 3, especially, that the integral supporting strap 14 forms a part of the semicircu1ar contour line of the semi-spherical domeshaped upper end portion 11.

On each side of the supporting strap 14 the dome-shaped upper end portion 11 is dented or creased as at 16 (similarly to the crease in a mans hat) with the longitudinal or major axis of the elliptical crease being disposed transversely at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the supporting strap 14.

The creased or dented portion 16 has central transverse cutouts 17 separated by inwardly directed triangular projections 18, 18, which in the completed hell are joined together in meeting or overlapipng relationship to form a clapper support.

While other types of clappers could be employed, I prefer the type of clapper shown in Fig. 4. This clapper 19, a known type, is also made of thin sheet steel or the like which is stamped, drawn or shaped from a steel strip. The clapper 19 has a semi-spherical cup-shaped striker element 20 joined by an integral stem 21 to an integral eyelet 22. in use, the eyelet 22 of the clapper 19 is engaged by the triangular projections 18, 18 which pass through the eyelet and form a clapper support which permits the clapper 19 to swing freely within the bell housing.

The shape, arrangement, and assembly of the two parts of the bell may perhaps be more clearly understood from a description of the method of forming and assembling. in making the bell, the preferred method involves, first cutting from a fiat thin sheet of steel or the like a plurality of circular blanks, one for each bell to be made. Each blank is then cupped and each cupped blank is then drawn into the form shown in Fig. l which has the flared open-mouth 13 joined by the central cylindrical portion 12 to the semi-spherical dome-shaped upper end 11.

After such forming the dome-shaped upper end portion 11 is pierced, cut and stamped to form the supporting strap 14 and also to form the dented or creased portion 16. Preferably this is effected by a combined simultaneous cutting and stamping operation.

It has been noted that the cut lines defining the parallel edges of the supporting strap 14 are provided with notches 15, 15'. These cut lines and notches 15, 15 defining the side edges of the supporting strap 14 obviously cause the adjacent portions of the dome-shaped upper end portion 11' to be provided with parallel edges provided with inwardly directed triangular projections 18, 18'. When the dented or creased portion 16 is formed by depressing downwardly those portions on each side of the central sup porting strap 14, the space or-cutout beneath the supporting strap assumes substantially the shape iliustrated in Figs. 8 and 10 in which the. triangular projections18, .18 meet preferably in slightly overlapping relationship. The cutting and stamping tools or dies employed to form the dented or creased portion 16 should preferably be such as to leave the projections 18, 18' in overlapping but slightly spaced relationship so that the eyelet 220i the clapper 19"can be inserted in place, after which the projections 18, 18'. can be pressed together, thus locking the clapper 19 in supported operative position.

It will be evident that such an arrangement permits the use of a clapper having a closed eyelet rather than a slittedieyelet. The closed eyelet clappers are not subject to the disadvantage of the slittedtype which sometimes becomes disconnected from its support.

It is important to note the presence of several factors which make bells in accordance with the invention successful. One of these factors is thecut lines defining the edges of the supporting strap 14. These have the notches 15; 15' which as described provide the triangular projections 18, 18' in the dented or creased portion 16; Of equal. or greater importance is the fact that the upper end of the bell housing portion is dome-shapedand substantially semi-spherical. Without these factors projections 18, 18' could not be formed to meet and form a support for the clapper 19. V

The importance of this can perhaps be appreciated from Fig. 11 which is a diagrammatic figure of the upper, end of a bell made in accordance with the invention. In this figure the two out lines defining the side edges of supporting strap 14 are designated by the reference letters a,,a". The reference letters x, x indicate the bend line of the the overlapping projections 18, 18', after which these projections are pressed together.

A modified form of hell is'illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13. Here the bell 23 is provided with the usual flared open mouth portion, a central substantially cylindrical portion 25 and an upper end 26. The upper end 26 in this instance is fiat.

A bell supporting strap 27' is formed byv cutting in the fiat upper end two parallel lines, having angular notches 12$, 23.. These notches are opposite from but slightly oliset from each other.. The. area. between the parallel lines is pressed upwardly above the level of the flatupper end 26 to form the supporting strap 27. V

Below the strap 27' the flat upper end 26 is left with a rectangular cutout having inwardly directed projections 29. 29' slightly offset from each other. These form a clapper support for an eyelet clapper such as shown in Fig. 4.

The projections 29, 29 are caused to pass though the eye- I let of such a clapper and the projections "are then fOrced.

the

creased or dented portion. It will be noted that the edgesv of the portions adjacent the supporting strap 14 follow the dotted lines as these portions are depressed in denting or creasing the dome-shaped upper end of the bell. The projections 18, 18 are thus caused to meet and overlap, if desired, as the bending is effected.

It is obviously important in the production oftoy bells of this type that the construction be such as to result in a clear ringing tone. One of the factors essential for good toneis' that theclapper be free swinging andbe supported substantially by a thin edge. The arrangement described herein, with the two pointed meeting projections 18, 18' passing though the eyelet 22 of the clapper 19, assists in effectingthis. desideratuml 7 It is also important to a clear ringing tone that there be a proper relationship between the thickness of the sheet metal of which the bell is made and the size of the bell. Those skilled in the art are well aware of this. Accordingly the particular ratio of material thickness to height and diameter forms no part of my inventive concept. As a guide, however, it may be pointed out. that with a toy bell having a height of one inch and a fiared open mouth .of one-eighth inches diameter, a bell made in accordance with the invention will produce a clear ringing tone if the bell housing is made from sheet steel havinga thicknessof about .012 inch.

In the manufacture and sale of small ornamental bells of this type it is extremely important that the parts be few in number and that they be so designed that they can be easily-and cheaply fabricated and assembled with a minimumofoperations. Manufacturing cost diflerences of a fraction of a cent sometimes'spell the difference between the commercial success or'failure of the item. T he'present' invention is well calculated to meet the most severe competitive cost requirements. As indicated, bells in ac cordancerwith the present invention are comprised of but two parts: the housing and-the clapper. Each is made from sheet metal by comparatively simple stampingand.

forming operations; The assembly of the two parts is also easily-accomplished by merely slipping the eyelet between toward each other until they meet'so as tolo'ck' the clapper in operative supported position. i

it should be evident that the bells shown anddescribed herein as illustrative only of the invention are. Iiot to be construed as limiting the invention, Obviously some. changes in form, structure and arrangement may be made within the scope of the invention defined in the vfollowing claims. r

iclaimL a i. A bell-shapedhousing for atoy bell capahleo'fre: ceiving a clapper with an integral,'closed.eyelet;'saidhous ing being of a single piece of thin sheet metal, the upper end portion of said housing being roundedfand having a central transverse strip area in spacedIrelationto the remaining portion of theupper end, said strip area constitut ing a supporting strap, areas adjacent each side; offsaid strip area being dented, the area of said upper end portion directly beneath said supporting 'strap having an opening,

integral facing projections dividing said opening and .com-.

prising a clapper support.

2. A bell-shaped housing for a toy, bell capable of re.- ceiving a clapper. having an integral, closed eyelet, said, housing being of a singlepiece of thin sheet steel, the up: per end portion of said housing. being rounded and having a central transverse strip area inspaced relation to the remaining portion of the upper end said strip area c01 -E stituting a supporting strap, areas adjacenteachedgelofsaid strip area beingdented, the intermediate part=ofsaid strap having inwardly directed facingpointed notch cut: outs, thearea of said upper end portion directly. beneath said. supporting strap having an opening, integral'facing,

projections dividing said opening and comprising a clapper support, said'facing projections'oeing complementaryin shape to said notch cutouts. I

3. A method of making a toy bell .of sheetrnetalcomprising cupping a circular blank of said sheetmetal, drawing said cupped blank into a bell housing having-. -operr ended flared mouth, a substantially cylindricalcentral POI-I tion and a closed semi-spherical:dome-shapedupperfin portion, cutting a pair of spaced lines. insaidlupperend portion, the metal between said lines comprisinga sup porting strap in the completed bell, said lineshavi-nga pair of angular indentations centrally. thereofi-depressing' the areas of said dome-shaped upper endjportion oneaeh side of the supporting strapmetal to form amellipticali crease the major'axis ofwvhich is'transverseatoihe longitudinal axis of the supporting strap metal, projections being formed by said angular indentations,v andlocated in said crease, said projections being placedin overlapping relationship due to said areas being depressed; formingnf sheet metal a clapper having an integralhstem striker-and closed eyelet, slipping the eyeletof saidclapper between said projections, and pressing said projections-together .to' form av clapper support.

4. A method of making a toy' bell housing. from-a; Q

single piece of sheet metal, comprising, cuppingtatcircular blank of sheet metal, drawing said cupped blank to form a structure having a substantially cylindrical central portion open at one end and dosed at the other, cutting a pair of spaced lines in said upper end portion, the metal between said lines comprising a supported strap in the completed bell, said lines having a pair of angular indentations centrally thereof, depressing the areas of said upper end portion on each side of the supporting strap metal, the projections formed in said depressed areas by said angular indentations being disposed in overlapping relationship and forming a clapper support for a clapper having an integral, closed eyelet.

5. A bell-shaped housing for a toy bell, said housing being of thin sheet metal, the upper end portion of said housing being rounded and having a central transverse strip area in spaced relation to the remaining portion of the upper end, said strip area constituting a supporting strap, areas adjacent each side of said strip area being dented elliptically, the area of said upper end portion directly beneath said supporting strap having an opening, at least one projection integral with said elliptical area extending into said opening to form a support for a clapper having an integral, closed eyelet.

6. A method of making a toy bell of a single piece of sheet metal comprising cupping a circular blank of said sheet metal, drawing said cupped blank into a bell housing having open-ended flared mouth, a substantially cylindrical central portion and a closed semi-spherical domeill shaped upper end portion, cutting a pair of spaced lines in said upper end portion, the metal between said lines comprising a supporting strap 1 the completed bell, at least one of said lines having a centrally directed indentation therein forming a projection in at least one of the areas of said upper end portion on each side of supporting strap, depressing said areas of said upper end portion to form a generally elliptical crease the major axis of which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the supporting strap, the projection formed in said area forming a support for a clapper having an integral, closed eyelet.

7. A bell-shaped housing for a metallic toy bell, comprising a lower portion terminating in a flared mouth, and an upper portion including an arch-shaped strap spaced from the remaining portion of the upper end, side portions below and on either side of said strap forming an opening therebetween, at least one projection extending from one of said side portions into said opening to form a clapper support for a clapper having an integral, closed eyelet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 299,724 Barinard June 3, 1884 1,362,348 Patelis Dec. 14, 1 920 2,510,569 Garthwait June 6, 1950 2,598,169 Hubbell May 27, 1952 

